EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

At 08:53 PM 10/11/01 +0100, Sascha wrote:
>Murray McDowall wrote:
>> Do you use the 32 bit sample storage option for EXS24?
>>
>> On a big drum
>> kit like the Stereo Drums this can make a huge difference to the amount of
>> CPU resources consumed.
>
>Sorry I have to disagree on that - well, not exactly disagree, but it
>actually doesn't exactly have to do with the number or size of samples but
>with the other things you described. The EXS has to convert 16 or 24 bit
>samples to 32bit float for all processing in case you choose the "original"
>option. This will use additional CPU cycles. But then, otoh you're right
>again because a higher number of samples usually needs more processing.
>Drums might not be such a good example though as you hardly play 8 note
>polyphonic voicings with them. 

Hi Sascha,

I noticed that the Stereo Drums patch that came with the EXS24 used a lot
of CPU on my PIII 800 machine and that this was lessened considerably by
converting to 32 bit float. Those samples are all 24 bit so perhaps it is
more work for the CPU than converting 16 bit samples -- I don't know. The
default for that patch is 32 voices.

I have my drums set at 'one shot" so all you need is some cymbal samples
ringing on -- some samples are 10 seconds long --  and you can have quite a
few voices running simultaneously. With the different velocity levels, if
you tend to progam a lot of dynamics in, you can end up with several
samples for the same instrument sounding simultaneously (eg ride for 0-65,
66-95, 96-120)  -- unless you go the high hat route and have the ride
cymbal limited to one voice all these can be ringing for seconds
simultaneously. I often use ride and ride bell together in a pattern which
brings 8 samples into play on the ride alone. I have converted 5 or 6 of
the Wizoo LM4 kits to Exs instrument files and so I work with these sorts
of velocity switching drum sets a lot (The EXS instrument definitions I
built are in the files area at Yahoo).

Regards,
Murray